New Delhi: London-based telecom lobby GSMA said India should include the 6GHz band (6.425-7.125GHz) in the next spectrum auction, as these airwaves will be crucial for telecom carriers to support the expansion of 5G mobile services and strengthen the country's competitiveness.
"We kindly request the DoT (Department of Telecommunications) to send a reference to Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) regarding the inclusion of the 6GHz band, along with any other band also that is made available for IMT (mobile services), in the upcoming spectrum auction process," Jeanette Whyte, head of public policy, Asia Pacific at the GSMA, said in a letter to DoT secretary Neeraj Mittal.
"This step would ensure that all necessary IMT spectrum bands - across mid-band and high-band frequencies - are made available together, facilitating a more comprehensive and efficient spectrum strategy," Whyte said.
ET has seen a copy of the letter dated March 26.
The government, though, hasn't set any time frame for the next round of airwave auctions.
The GSMA executive said the inclusion of the 6GHz band in the upcoming auctions would strengthen India's digital economy while supporting the country's ambition to become a global hub for advanced telecom technologies.
GSMA's letter comes after the Union cabinet in January approved the refarming of additional spectrum across 10 bands including 470MHz to 6GHz, to make them available to telecom operators to meet their 5G mobile services and 6G research and development needs. The decision put to rest a tussle between telcos and tech companies over the 6GHz band.
"We kindly request the DoT (Department of Telecommunications) to send a reference to Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) regarding the inclusion of the 6GHz band, along with any other band also that is made available for IMT (mobile services), in the upcoming spectrum auction process," Jeanette Whyte, head of public policy, Asia Pacific at the GSMA, said in a letter to DoT secretary Neeraj Mittal.
"This step would ensure that all necessary IMT spectrum bands - across mid-band and high-band frequencies - are made available together, facilitating a more comprehensive and efficient spectrum strategy," Whyte said.
ET has seen a copy of the letter dated March 26.
The government, though, hasn't set any time frame for the next round of airwave auctions.
The GSMA executive said the inclusion of the 6GHz band in the upcoming auctions would strengthen India's digital economy while supporting the country's ambition to become a global hub for advanced telecom technologies.
GSMA's letter comes after the Union cabinet in January approved the refarming of additional spectrum across 10 bands including 470MHz to 6GHz, to make them available to telecom operators to meet their 5G mobile services and 6G research and development needs. The decision put to rest a tussle between telcos and tech companies over the 6GHz band.
